Continuous feed for arc-lamps.



A. D. STANDEFORD.

CONTINUOUS FEED FOR AROLAMPS. APPLICATION FILED "JULY 23.1915.

1,289,294. Patented Dec.31,1918.

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ARCHIE D. STANDEFORD, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

CONTINUOUS FEED FOR ABC-LAMPS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

Application filed I u1y 23, 1915. Serial No. 41,507.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARCHIE D. STANDE- FORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new" and useful Improvements in Continuous Feeds for Arc-Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to continuous feeding means for are lamps, and while it may be used for other purposes it is especially adaptable for arc lamps used in connection with motion picture machines, where a steady light of a redetermined candle power is necessary to obtain the best results.

The invention provides for constant and automatic feeding of the lamp carbons by a rotary motor, which is connected in parallel with the lamp and consequently maintains a uniform arc gap between said carbons. The invention also provides for manual adjustment of the motor speed, so that the length of the arc gap between the carbons can be changed to meet various conditions. The manually adjustable means is under the immediate control of an operator, and is so arranged that the speed of the motor can be regulated to obtain an arc gap of desired length Without stopping said motor.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows an arc lamp provided with the controlling means.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of manual means employed in striking an arc.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view.

A designates the lamp house of a motion picture machine, to which my invention is particularly adapted, as hereinbefore stated.

B and B designate the upper and lower carbons, respectively, of an arc lamp C, ar-

ranged within said lamp house A. The carbons B and B are adjustably secured by set screws 1 and 2 to brackets 3 and 4 provided 1 with sleeves 5 and 6, respectively.

7 and 8 designate rack-bars upon which the sleeves 5 and 6 are firmly secured by set screws 7 and 8*, respectively, and intermesh with opposite sides of a pinion 9, whereby said rack-bars are propelled in opposite directions.

The pinion 9 is fixedly-mounted upon a shaft 10, journaled in a bearing 11 and has a universal connection 12 with a longitudinally adjustable shaft 13, havin a universal I connection 14 with a shaft 15, ournaled in a bearing 16. The shaft 15 is provided with a fixedly-mounted hand wheel 17 and a fixedly-mounted worm wheel 18.

The worm wheel 18 is driven by a worm 19 mounted upon a shaft 20, having an universal connection 21 with an intermediate shaft 22, having a universal connection 23 with a shaft 24, journaled in a bearing 25 and provided at its lower end with a fixedly-mounted worm wheel 26, intermeshing with a worm 27, fixedly-mounted upon a shaft 28, carryin a fixedly-mounted worm wheel 29 driven %y a worm 3O fixed upon the shaft of a rotary motor 31. All of the aforementioned gearing, except the pinion 9 is assembled upon a frame 32 connected to the lamp house A, so that all the parts are within convenient reach of the operator and are moved with said lamp house when the same is shifted to one side to project stereopticon views.

Shaft 20 is journaled in a bearing 33,

carried on one end of a lever 34, having a fulcrum 35, carried by a bracket 36, projecting from the bearing 16. A retractile spring 37 connected to the bracket 36 and the lever 34,. normally holds the worm 19 in mesh with the worm wheel 18.

38 designates an eccentric lever for throwing the worm 19 out of mesh with the worm wheel 18. Said eccentric lever 38 bears against one end of the lever 34 and has a.

fulcrum 39 at the end of the bracket 36.

40 designates a rheostat for manually regulating the motor voltage.

Referring to the diagram,-Fig. 3, D designates a generator for supplying the main line wires E and F with current. G designates the arc circuit, which is connected to the main line wires E and F'and has the usual resistance H, to reduce the voltage received from the main line. The rotary motor 31 has one side ermanently connected to the arc circuit (i at a point between the arc C and the resistance H, through a wire I, and has its opposite side connected to said are circuit G by the variable resistance or rheostat 40, so that the speed of said motor can be manually regulated at will. A manually controlled switch J is provided for interrupting the arc circuit G when de- B and B fast enough to take care of maximum consumption thereof when the resistance 40 is reduced to a minimum, and said resistance 40 may be increased to reduce the speed of motor 41 to take care of the minimum consumption of the carbons. Hence by proper manipulation of said resistance 40, an arc gap of desired length can be quickly obtained.

In practice, when the lamp circuit G is first closed through the switch J, the arc is manually struck throu h manipulation-of the hand wheel 17 which is easily accomplished after the worm 19 has been thrown out of engagement with the worm wheel 18 through the intermediacy of the eccentric lever 38. After the desired arc. gap has been attained the worm 19 is thro back into engagement with the worm wheel 18, so that the carbons B and B will be automatically fed by the motor 31 and the intervening gearing. As the motor 31 is connected in parallel with the are C, it is obvious that ordinary fluctuations of the voltage will simultaneously efi'ect' the arc and the motor, and consequently the latter automatically maintains a constant arc gap between the points of the carbons B and B. In other words, any decrease in the resistance of the are due to a diminishing are gap between the carbons, renders the resistance of said are less than the motor resistance,,and consequently the speed of said motor is auto matically reduced and the carbons are fed more slowly until a balance between such speed and the consumption of the carbons is attained, when the arc gap remains constant. Should the arc gap increase and oder greater resistance than the motor, voltage through the latter is automatically increased and the resultant increased speed of the motor reduces said are gap until the resistance ofi'ered thereby balances the motor resistance, when the arc gap remains constant. However, under ordinary conditions, the constant arc gap thus automatically attained may be too long or too short to produce the most efiicient light for projecting pictures upon a screen, and consequently it is necessary that manual means be provided whereby the operator can accurately attain an arc gap of the desired length. Such manual means is provided in the form of the variable resistance 40, as above described.

From the foregoing description, it is parent that my manner of connecting ap the motor 31 with the arc circuit G, results not only in automatically maintaining a constant arc gap between the carbon points, but also provides for manually adjusting said are gap by introducing the variable resistance 40 in the motor circuit, and while if have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, I reserve the right to make such changes in the construction, ar-

a sence tinually feeding the carbons of the arc and adapted to rotate in one direction only, a suitable connection between the arc circuit and one side of the motor, and a variable resistance between the oppom'te side of said motor and the arc circuit, whereby the motor resistance can be manually regulated independently of the arc resistance.

2. In combination, an arc circuit, a motor for continually feeding the carbons of the arc and ada ted to rotate in one direction only, a suita le connection between the arc circuit and one side of the motor, and a manually controlled variable resistance between the opposite, 'side of said motor and the'arc circuit, whereby the motor resistance can be manually regulated independently of the arc resistance.

3. In combination, an arc circuit, a motor for continually feeding the carbons of the arc and adapted to rotate in one direction only, a suitable connection between the arc circuit and one side of the motor, and a rheostat interposed between the opposite side of said motor and the arc circuit, whereby the motor resistance can "be manually regulated at will independently of the arc resistance.

4:. In combination, an arc circuit, a motor, gearing actuated by said motor for continually feeding the carbons of the arc and adapted to rotate in one direction only, means for disconnecting said gearing from the motor, means for actuating a portion of said gearing manually tofeed the carbons, a connection between the arc circuit and one side of the motor, and a variable resistance between the opposite side of said motor and the are circuit, whereby the motor resistance can be manually regulated independently of the arc resistance.

5. in combination with the lamp house of a motion picture machine, an are arranged in said lamp house, a circuit for said arc, gearing assembled with the lamp house for continually feeding the carbons of the are, a rotary motor for driving said gearing, a permanent connection between the are circuit and one side of said motor, and a rheostat between the opposite side of said motor and the are circuit, whereby the motor resistance can be manually regulated independently of the arc resistance.

6'. In combination with the lamp house of a motion picture machine, an are arranged within said lamp house, a circuit for said are, a rotary motor adapted to rotate in one.

direction only and permanently connected at one side to the arc circuit, gearing continually driven by said motor and proportioned to feed the arc carbons at the rate of maximum consumption thereof when resistance is reduced to a minimum, a manually controlled resistance between the opposite side of the motor and the arc circuit adapted to regulate the speed of the motor to take care of the maximum and the minimum consumption of the carbons, manually controlled means for disconnecting the earing at a point between said motor an the carbon holders, and manual means for actuating a portion of the gearing when'disconnected to establish an am.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

ARCHIE D. STANDEFORD. Witnesses:

F. G. Frsomm, L. J. FISCHER. 

